Refillable fuse



March 3, 1931. J. H. HxcKEY 1,794,710

REFILLABLE FUSE Filed July 7, 1928 INVENTOE.

Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. HICKEY, OF SANFRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR TO HICXEY FUSE MANUFACTURING COMPANY,OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA REFILLABLElUsE Application filed July 7,

l@ tion is to provide a retillable fuse of simpliied and improvedconstruction.

Another object is to provide an improved fuse wherein the terminals arereadily removable to receive a new fusible element and which willfacilitate the reassembly of the fuse.

A further object is to provide an improved construction which willedectually seal the ends of the fuse casing.

Another object is toprovide an improved device which is simple andpositive in its .action and which will permit the fuse to be refilledrepeatedly.

A still further object is to provide an improved construction which canbe manufactured economically and which is durable and efficient inservice.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved devicedisclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present applicationwherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar partsthroughout the specication and drawings and in Which Fig. 1 isalongitudinal section of my improved reiillable fuse;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section of the fuse,the view being shown in a position at right angles to the position shownin Fig. 1;`

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the fuse;

b Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clamping memer; y I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the'alining plate;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modifiedy form wherein the 'clamping plate issecured to the alining plate; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the modified form, taken upon the line7-7 of Fig. 6 in the direction indicated.

192s. serial No. 291,039.

lReferring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate acylindrical casing threaded at both ends, as at 2.. Terminal members 3and 4 are mounted within the ends of the casing, said terminalsconsisting of annular iange portions having inwardly extending lugs 3and 4 and outwardly extending blade portions 3 and 4 respectively.

The terminal member 3 is provided with an annular shoulder 6 arranged toseat upon the end of the casing 1. A lug 7 is formed upon the shoulderto engage a recess formed in the end of the casing to dene the normaloperative position of the terminal. A collar 8 is threaded onto the endof the casing `1 and provided with an inwardly disposed flange 9arranged to seat against the terminal 3 to hold the terminal memberseated in sealing relation to the end 0f the casing.

The terminal member 4 is movable through the casing 1, the flangeportion being received within the end of the casing. An alining plate 11having an annular shoulder 12 is arranged to seat upon the end of thecasing 1 adjacent the terminal 4, a lug 13 being formed upon theshoulder 12 to engage a recess formed upon the end of the casing toaline the terminal in respect to the opposite terminal 3.l The plate 11is provided with a slot 14 ary ranged to slidably receive the outwardlyextending blade 4 Wherebythe plate 11 may be moved into proximaterelation to the iange portion of the terminal 4.

A clamping member 16 having a slot 17 arranged to slldably engage theblade 4 is mounted in proximate relation to the alining plate 11.`Arcuate recesses 18 are formed in the center of the member 16 to permitthe member 16 to be rotated upon a reduced portion of the blade 4 formedby notches 19 formed in the sides of said blade portion. Inclinedsurfaces 21 are formed upon the outer side of the member 16 to bereceived Within the notches 19, the outer sides of the notches beinginclined to correspond to the surfaces 21. The member 16 may litloosely/onto the outer end of the terminal 4 and against the'aliningplate 11, or if desired, pins 22 may be aranged to extend RHSSUEDthrough arcuate slots 23 formed in the memmember 16 maybe held irmlyseated upon the plate 11 and said plate 1-1 in turn held firmly seatedupon the end of the casing.

A suitable fusible element 27 is secured between the inwardly extendinglugs 3 and 4 by suitable securing members 28 in the well known manner. v

In operation, the fuse is assembled by securing the fusible element 27between the lugs 3 and 4 and then inserting the terminal 4 and thefusible element through the casing until the terminal 3 is seated uponthe end of the casing. The collar 8 is then threaded .onto the end of'the casing to clamp the terminal firmly against the end of the "casing,the collar being tightened to efectu al:

ly seal the end of the casing and prevent the escape of gas around theends of the terminal. The lug 7 defines the position of the terminalrelative to the end of the casing.

After the collar 8 has ,been applied, the alining plate 11 is moved ontothe outwardly extending blade portion of the terminal 4 and is seatedupon the adjacent end of the casing 1, the lug 13 being moved to engageits recess in the end of the casing to aline the terminal 4 with respectto the opposite terminal 3. The clamping member 17, which may be eitherapplied separately or linked to the plate 11 by the pins 22 as abovedescribed, is then turned to cause the inclined surfaces 21 to enter thenotches 19. As the clamping member 17 is turned, the inclined surfacesact as wedges operating to press the plate 11 and the terminal 4 tightlytogether. The collar 24 is then applied and tightened to press they late11 against the end of the casing. The cl mping member 17 insures a closeContact between the plate 11 and the adjacent surfaces of the terminal 4and the member 17, and the collar 24 efectually secures and seals theclosure across the end of the casing.

A s thus assembled, the fuse is used in the ordinary manner. When thefusible element 27 is to be replaced, the fuse is taken apart byremoving the collars8 and 24, and a new fusible element applied as abovedescribed and the fuse reassembledl for further use.

The clamping member insures a gals-tight closure, and, being positionedupon the outer s1de of the terminal and alining plate, is unaected bygases or metal projected from the fusible element when blown.

The specific details of construction may of course be modified innumerous ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and Itherefore desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let- 1. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminalmembers arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible elementconnected between' the terminalv members; a collar detachably securingone of the terminal members upon the casing; clamping means detachablyclamped upon the opposite terminal member and seating upon the adjacentend of the casing; and a collar de- Aeo tachably securing the clampingmeans upon the end of the casing. j

2. A rellable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged toengage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between theterminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminalmembers upon the casing; a plate engaging the opposite terminal memberand seating upon the adjacent end of the casing; clamping meansrotatably mounted in proximate relation'to the plate and having meansfor detachably clamping said plate in engagement with the terminalmemberand a collar detachably securing the plate and clamping means uponthe end of the casing. y

3. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged toengage 'the ends ofl the casing; a fusible elementconnected between theterminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminalmembers upon the casing; an alining plate engaging the opposite terminalmember and the adjacent end of the casing; a clamping member mounted inengagement with the alining plate and rotatably movable relative theretoto engage notches formed in the terminal member for clamping theterminall and the plate together; and a collar engaging the end of thecasing and detachably securing the Aplate and clamping member upon theend of said casing.

4. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged toengage thel ends of thecasing; a fusible element connected between theterminal members; a cap detachably securing one of the terminal membersupon the casing; an alining plate engaging the opposite terminal memberand lthe adjacentend of the casing; a clamping member mounted inengagement with the alining plate and provided with inclined surfacesarranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member to clamp theterminal and plate together; and a collar engaging the end ofthe casingand detachably securing the terminal and alining plateupon the end ofthe casing.

5. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged toengage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between theterminal members; a col-v lar detachably securing one of the terminalmembers upon the casing; an alining plate slotted to engage the oppositeterminal and arranged to seat upon said terminal and the adj acentfendof the casing; a clamping plate mounted in proximate relation to thealining plate and rotatably movable relative thereto, said clampingplate having inclined surfaces arranged to engage notches formed in theterminal to clamp the terminal and plate together; and a collar engagingthe vend of the casing anddetachably securing the terminal and aliningplate upon the end of the casing.

6. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged toengage the ends of thevcasing, said members each comprising an annularflange having inwardly extending lugs and outwardly extendin bladeportions; a fusible element connected between the inwardly extendinglugs; a collar detachably securing the flange portion of one terminalmember against one end of the casing; an alining plate slotted to fitover the blade of the opposite terminal member and arranged to seat uponthe adjacent end of the casing; clamping means rotatably mounted inconnection with the alining plate and movable to clamp said plate andthe terminal flange together; and a collar detachably securing thealining plate and clamping means against the end of the casing.

7. A refillable fuse comprising a casing;

terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing, said memberseach comprising an anular flange portion having inwardly extending lugsand outwardly extending blade portions; a fusible element connectedbetween the inwardly extending lugs; a collar detachably securing theflange portion of one terminal member seated against one end of thecasing; an alining plate slotted to fit over the blade of theoppositeterminal and arranged to seat upon the adjacent end of the casing; aclamping plate rotatably mounted upon said blade in proximate relationto the alining plate, said clamping plate having inclined surfacesarranged to engage notches formed in the blade for clamping the terminalmember and the alining plate together; and a collar detachably securingthe alining plate seated against the adjacent end of the casing.

8. ln a refillable fuse having a easing and terminal members detachablysecured upon the ends of said casing, an alining plate arranged to seatupon one end of the casing, said plate being slotted to receive aterminal member; and a clamping plate mounted in proximate relation tothe alining plate, said clamping plate being rotatably movable relativeto the terminal member and alining plate and having inclined surfacesarranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member for detachablyclamping the terminal member land the alining plate together.

9. In a refillable fuse having a casing and terminal members detachablysecured upon the ends of said casing, an alining plate arranged todetachably engage a terminal member andto seat upon one end of thecasing; and a clamping plate rotatably mounted upon the terminal memberin proximate relation to the alining plate and. provided with inclinedsurfaces engaging notches formed in the terminal member for clamping theterminal member and alining plate together.

10. In a refillable fuse having a casing, a terminal member having aflange fitted within an end of the casing; an alining plate seated uponthe end of the easing, said plate being slotted to slidably engage theterminal member; and a clamplng member mounted in proximate relation tothe outer surface of the aliningplate, said clamping member beingrotatably movable relative to the plate' and terminal member and havingmeans movable into clamping engagement with notches formed in saidterminal member to clamp said member and the alining plate together.

11. In a refillable fuse having a casing, a terminal member having aflange fitted within an end of the casing; an alining plate seated uponthe end of the casing, said plate being slotted to slidably engage theterminal member; and a clamping member mounted upon the terminal memberin proximate relation to the outer surface of the alining plate, saidclamping member being rotatablyimovable and having inclined surfacesarranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member to clamp saidmember and the alining arranged to engage a recess formed 'in the end ofthe casing to aline said plate and terminal with the opposite terminal;and a clamping plate slidably and rotatably engaging the outer end ofthe terminal member and provided with inclined surfaces arranged toengage notches formed in said terminal member adjacent the alining platefor clamping said plate and the terminal member together.

13. ln a renewable fuse, the combination of a tubular fuse body, aterminal blade arranged to extend through the end of said body, anabutment on said terminal blade eX- tending outwardly from the sidesofthe -5 blade, the blade being provided with a restricted neck outsideof said abutment, a slotted Washer arranged to be slipped do'wn over theterminal blade to rest against the abutment and close the end of thefuse body, a Y u, sealing disk having a central aperture enlarged atdiametrically opposite points to permit the disk when turned into oneposition to be slipped down over the blade and v fest on the washer,said disk being then ro- 1,-, tated relative to the washer to clasp there-` y stricted neck of the blade, and seal the ends of the slot of thewasher, and means separate from the sealing washer for clamping the diskagainst the washer and the washer against the end of the fuse body. i,

14. In a renewable fuse, the combination of a tubular fuse body, aterminal blade arranged to extend through the end of said body, anabutment on said terminal blade extending outwardly from the sides ofthe blade, the blade being provided with a restricted neck outside ofsaid abutment, a slotted washer arranged to be slipped down Y over theterminal blade to rest against the abutment and close the end of thefuse body, a sealing disk having a central aperture enlarged atdiametrical y opposite points to permit the disk when turned into oneposition to be slipped down'over the blade and rest fm on the washer,said disk being then rotated relative to the washer to clasp therestricted neck of the blade and seal the ends of the slot of thewasher, and an annular cap arranged to be screwed on the end of the fuse40 body to clamp the disk to the washer and the washer to the end of thefuse body.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

J OHN H. HICKEY.

